“Now don’t worry. I’ll keep it safe,” Alec said.
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Taryn said.
Alec lunged.
Nolan blocked, and the clang of swords rang out.
“Nice one!” Alec said. He lunged again.
Nolan pushed back panic, concentrating on the fight. This was real swordplay, not the banging of two sticks against each other. It was metal upon metal, singing a song of real combat.
It was exciting and a bit scary.
His panic died as he concentrated on the moves. Alec tried to trick him, and Nolan compensated.
After a while, Nolan noticed others gathering. Daren. Rylan. And quite of few others he couldn’t name. Nolan’s body dripped with sticky sweat, and he gasped so hard he struggled to breathe.
“Giving up yet?” Alec taunted. A huge grin spread across his face. He was much more used to this sort of thing than Nolan.
“Not a chance,” Nolan said between gasps. Alec wouldn’t take him that easily.
Several observers drifted away. Nolan figured they’d gotten bored. But when he saw a larger crowd headed toward the central hall, he flared a bit of Perception, just enough to hear what was going on. Nolan dodged another strike then stopped mid-fight at hearing the name of Emery mentioned. Sudden, fiery pain shot through his arm.
“Crows, Nolan,” Alec said, throwing down his sword.
A deep gash cut between his wrist and elbow, and bright crimson blood gushed from the wound. Nolan pressed his arm against his chest trying to stop the flow, covering his shirt in red.
“Why didn’t you block?” Alec said. “Taryn!”
Taryn’s eyes opened wide. “You said you’d be safe.”
“He was safe,” Nolan said. “I was distracted; it’s my fault.”
“By Brim,” Alec said. “It’s a bad one.”
Nolan’s head swam as the red on his shirt spread. Taryn laid her trembling hands on Nolan—one on either side of the angry wound. Her head flew back, and she choked on a scream.
Healing coursed through Nolan’s body, and he watched helplessly as her wound opened and his closed. Her arms shook as she took in the gash. When her injury healed completely, she fell to her knees in the blood-soaked grass.
“I’m so sorry.” Nolan’s chest tightened and guilt washed over him. So stupid! How could I be so careless?
With a dazed expression, she nodded. “It’s what I’m supposed to do, right?”
Alec grabbed Nolan’s wrist and wiped the blood with his hand. “Crows, you’re amazing, Taryn. You can barely see it. I wish you’d been around when I fought my father all those years. Maybe my body wouldn’t be so wrecked.”
“Your body is fine,” Taryn said, still trembling. She froze as color rushed to her cheeks.
Alec stared as if he hadn’t quite heard her correctly.
Nolan’s hearing tuned to the distant conversation again. He wanted to flare Perception to hear better, but he wasn’t so sure he could do it without giving it away. He looked at Taryn and Alec. The pink tint to both of their faces was enough excuse to go.
“Well, I should clean myself up. I’m a mess.” He put a hand on Taryn’s shoulder, guilt prodding his gut. “Um … thanks.”
She nodded, though her eyes remained fixed on the ground.
Alec tore his eyes from Taryn. “You okay?”
“Don’t worry. It’s my fault. I’ll pay attention next time.” He took a few steps. “Tomorrow?”
Alec relaxed. “Sounds good.”
Nolan made his way toward the conversation, making sure no one watched before increasing his Perception.
“Where are they?” an older voice said. It sounded like it could be Jared.
“They’re going west for the Strength stone. Maska feels its pull greatly, so we’ve decided to continue and collect them both before coming back,” said another voice Nolan didn’t recognize.
“Where’s the Empathy stone now?”
“They kept it with them. It gives Emery and Flann comfort, at least enough to press on.”
Nolan rounded a corner and saw the conversation. Jared stood next to a middle-aged man, slight of build and short of stature. His dark-blond hair grayed at his temples. His posture was erect. They both quieted as Nolan approach. The stranger seemed not to notice Nolan’s gory appearance. His piercing hazel eyes met Nolan’s.
“Nolan?” Jared said. “What happened to you? Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine,” Nolan said. “Just sparring with Alec.”
The stranger chuckled. “You need more practice.” He offered his hand. “Nolan, it’s good to meet you. We were introduced briefly, but you were unresponsive at the time.”
Nolan shook his hand, cringing when he’d bloodied the man’s palm. It didn’t seem to bother him.
“I’m Vikas,” he said. “I was just telling Jared we found the Empathy stone past Numa, half buried in a field of grass. If it weren’t for Emery and Flann, I would’ve thought it was only another stone lying there.”
Nolan shifted uncomfortably. “How is … everyone?”
“Fine,” Vikas said. “We were glad to hear you’d recovered.”
Nolan’s head swam, his vision fuzzy. He needed to lie down. “Give them all my greetings.”
Vikas nodded. “That, I will.” He turned back to his conversation with Jared.
Nolan headed home, still listening in as he stumbled along. It would be another month before Emery’s group returned.
Nolan crossed the village, catching the horrified stares of several people. Finally, he opened the door of his house, and a wave of exhaustion fell over him. He crumpled onto his bed, falling asleep almost instantly.
His dreams were littered with Megan, then of a light-filled warrior standing over a pile of stones. Nolan dropped to his knees, tossing stones to the side. Searching. The rocks thudded against the wall, over and over again. And even when he held one in his hand, the noise continued. The stone glowed, this time with a light so white it blinded him. He covered his face as the light swelled. When it completely enveloped him, Nolan awoke. His clothes were soaked in perspiration and caked with dried blood.
The pounding continued.
“Nolan!” Alec called from the door.
Nolan rose, staggering. Morning sunlight hung low in the eastern sky, framing Alec in the open doorway.
“I was wondering where you were,” Alec stammered. “We were supposed to meet for practice. Crows, you look terrible.”
Nolan examined himself. He did look terrible. “I guess I fell asleep.”
The scar on Alec’s cheek puckered as he frowned. “You all right?”
“I’m fine,” Nolan lied. He was a little weak, and he hadn’t felt right since coming into Perception. He motioned Alec inside. Nolan stripped off his clothes; dried blood crusted his torso and legs. Old sweat coated his body.
Alec shook his head. “You need a swim.”
Nolan slipped on a clean pair of breeches and carried his boots and tunic. They left and threaded through town. Nolan still got odd stares, but not as many as the day before. A few people even waved as they passed.
The air cooled his skin; the end of summer approached. The gentle breeze sent shivers over his bare chest as they continued to the lake at the edge of town.
Alec kicked off his boots and his shirt and dove in, gasping loudly as he hit the cold water. Nolan hesitated and then followed his lead.
Nolan’s increased sense of touch amplified each drop on his skin. It bordered on maddening. He relaxed into the sensations and allowed his Perception to fully take hold.
Underwater, plants, fish, and other vegetation became crisp and clear in astonishing details. Nolan knew how to swim well. He’d lived near the sea most of his life, and he could hold his breath a long while. Gray stones littered the lake bottom, some as big as his head and others not quite as small as sand. Vegetation poked out in clumps, swaying as he swam past. A young catfish glided behind a plant, failing miserably a
t hiding from Nolan’s Perception. When the burning in his lungs couldn’t take it any longer, he pushed upward, breaking through the surface in time to see Alec diving in again.
Nolan took a breath and went back under, letting the sensations take over. He could hear Alec’s smooth, even strokes coming toward him. When he got close, Nolan hid his Perception Shay.
They both surfaced.
Alec did an exaggerated shudder. “Crows, it’s cold.”
“Tell me about it.”
Alec circled Nolan, his face submerged except for his eyes. It reminded Nolan of the sharks that used to circle the boats. Nolan saw the glint of golden-yellow light flare in Alec’s eyes in just enough time to hold his breath as Alec yanked him under.
The water rushed by in a current so fast Nolan’s Perception couldn’t see. Alec slowed his pace and they both popped above the water, gasping and laughing at the same time.
Alec’s laughter stopped. He stared, an odd expression on his face. “For a second there, your eyes looked brown.”
“That would be a good trick,” Nolan said. And before Alec could say anything else, Nolan pushed Alec’s head under.
After being thoroughly soaked and having the grime washed away, they stumbled to the shore and collapsed on the grass.
Alec pulled on his boots, his blond curls now dark and plastered to his head. Nolan had spied Alec once without his shirt in the Alton armory, but he’d almost forgotten how scarred the boy was. Even on hot days, Alec kept his tunic on. Up close, Nolan could make out all the smaller, faded scars too. Dear Brim. What had he been through? It made Nolan mad at Kardos all over again.
“How about some swords?” Alec asked.
“Ah ha! So that’s your plan. Wear me out so you can beat me easier.”
Alec stood, whacking Nolan with his tunic. “Nah. I can beat you without that.”
“Sounds like a challenge.”
An evil gleam hinted in his eyes. “More like a fact.”
It was well into the evening when hunger and exhaustion brought them home. Nolan ached in places he never knew he could.
“It was a good day,” Alec said as they walked slowly toward the armory.
“Are you getting bored fighting me?”
Alec stopped. “Bored? Why do you say that?”
“Come now. I know you’re holding back. You’d probably rather fight someone a bit more challenging.”
“I did get a chance to fight Vikas a few weeks ago before he left with Emery. He came to train me and the other Speed users.” He grinned. “I surprised him.”
Nolan had only met the man briefly, but he looked tough as iron.
Alec continued, “Did you know Vikas was captain of the Speed Rol’dan when Emery was general? Emery led the revolt, of course, but Vikas protected them. Still, they barely got away. Most of them didn’t.”
Alec became tense and silent.
“What is it?” Nolan asked.
“Well,” Alec said. “When they escaped, most of the soldiers were too stunned to do anything; their general and most of his captains had turned traitor and fled. But one man fought them. Nearly killed them all. Only Vikas, Garrick, and Emery made it out alive.” He pressed his lips together. “Your brother stood against them.”
Nolan’s chest tightened. He stopped, struggling to breathe.
“Sorry, Nolan. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“It’s okay,” Nolan said. “I shouldn’t be surprised.”
“Vikas is vicious with a sword,” Alec said, trying to change the subject.
“Did you win?” Nolan asked.
One side of Alec’s mouth rose. “Of course.”
They continued in silence. With a flare of Perception, Nolan heard the clang of Kardos’s hammer and smelled the coals of his forge ahead. Nolan forced his senses back to his immediate surroundings. “How’d you learn about their escape?”
“People talk,” Alec said. “You’d hear more too if you’d quit hiding.”
“I have things to do!”
“Such as?”
Nolan hesitated and then quickly changed the subject. “So fighting with Vikas makes me quite pathetic in comparison, I’m sure.”
“Not so pathetic,” he said. “You might be surprised how well you do fight, Nolan.”
“You only need to use your Speed, and you’d beat me in seconds,” Nolan said. “And besides, I must cheat—as you call it—to even come close.”
“It isn’t like you’re using your full range of Accuracy.”
Nolan grinned. “At least not when you’re looking.”
“Oh, really?” Alec said. ”Well, in a real battle, one should use whatever skills they have to defend themselves. And I suppose, considering you’ve only been fighting for two weeks, using your Shay power would be fair, since I’ve had a sword in my hand all my life. Fighting you is more challenging than fighting most of the others here.”
Nolan gawked. “You can’t be serious.”
“You’d be a good challenge for my father,” he added. “Once you’ve had more practice.”
“Your father?”
“I’m not joking,” he said. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
The blood left Nolan’s face. “What did you say?”
They’d come to where the path separated in different directions. Alec stepped toward the armory, not answering.
“What do you mean ‘wait and see?’” Nolan asked.
Alec turned with familiar mischief on his face. “Swords tomorrow?”
Before Nolan could answer, Alec flared his Speed, leaving Nolan alone with his apprehensions.
Chapter Twenty-Four
SIX WEEKS PASSED without much happening. Every day they would practice, and nearly every day Alec would tease him about fighting his father.
Kardos scared Nolan just as much as any Rol’dan soldier. Maybe it was because of his fierce fighting abilities or because he glared at almost everyone. Or, more than likely, it was because Kardos had no problem injuring his own son; who knew what he’d do to someone else?
Thankfully, Kardos had kept to himself since arriving at the village, working on swords and shields. He rarely emerged from the armory, which suited Nolan just fine.
As the days passed, Nolan began seeing Alec’s threats as that—only threats. Instead, Nolan focused on more important things, such as not getting sliced by Alec’s blade.
The time for Emery’s group to return quickly approached, and the thought made Nolan a little nervous. Would Emery detect Nolan’s new power? Emery had to dig deep in Nolan’s head when he’d first sensed his hidden Shay. So as long as Nolan didn’t give anything away, he’d probably be fine. He wasn’t going to worry about it—at least that’s what he kept telling himself.
The village knew Emery was coming soon, not because of the fading summer, but because how grumpy those with Empathy and Strength had become. Rylan’s grumbling and complaining could be spurred by only one thing: the closing distance between him and the Stone of Strength.
Megan entered Nolan’s thoughts daily. He’d transformed in the past two months—besides the added Shay power. Nolan’s pale skin had tanned, and all the training had built muscles on his normally stringy frame. The fighting no longer made him want to crawl into bed and die at night, and he actually looked forward to it each day. For once, he didn’t feel like a mousey scribe. What would Megan think when she saw him?
Nolan stepped off early to the practice field, determined to make Alec work for his victory for a change. He pulled his sword from its sheath and slowly practiced each movement, first on the right side, then the left, and then in large sweeping arcs in front of him. Flaring Accuracy, he increased the speed, throwing offensive jabs and a slice, imagining an opponent fighting him.
A few people gathered to watch—which wasn’t uncommon. Nolan closed his eyes, pretending the onlookers weren’t there. However, the task grew harder as their whispering increased. Do I look that ridiculous? He summoned a small amount of Percep
tion and listened.
“I heard he’s coming to fight Nolan today,” a man said.
“That blacksmith’s got quite a temper. I wouldn’t want to fight him.”
Nolan’s eyes popped open. He scanned the field and locked on two figures walking toward him. Nolan recognized Alec’s prowling gait. He focused his Perception enough to bring their image closer to view. Kardos Deverell walked by Alec’s side.
Nolan’s concentration sputtered like a dying spark. Crows! What was he doing here?
Alec waved as he got closer, wearing an expression of excitement. He must have been trying to get his father to come for quite some time. Nolan’s stomach churned, as if doing Speed-enhanced acrobatics.
“Nolan,” Alec said as they approached. “Father agreed to come and watch, give us a few pointers.”
“Watch?” Nolan asked. By the triumphant expression on Alec’s face, it was plain he had other plans.
“Of course,” Alec said.
“Mr. Deverell.” Nolan bowed his head slightly.
Kardos grunted and stood to the side.
“Shall we?” Alec strapped on his scabbard and slid his sword out. His eyes locked on Nolan’s as he swished the blade through the air.
“What are you doing?” Nolan whispered.
“What?” Alec answered with feigned innocence. “What do you mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean.”
“I came to fight.”
Nolan scowled as they squared off. “If I live through this, I’ll kill you.”
Alec laughed and, with a quick movement, began the duel. “Ha!”
Nolan barely blocked the blow. He deflected it and stepped back to gain some distance, his hands shaking.
“Relax,” Alec said, the light of Speed flashing in his eyes.
Their swords danced. Nolan’s arm remembered the moves far before his thoughts. Time and place disappeared as Nolan concentrated on the match.
As it progressed, Nolan’s lungs burned. He grasped his sword tightly in his sweat-coated palm. Nolan’s tunic clung to his chest and sweat dripped into his eyes. He blinked it away, refocusing on the duel. Flaring Perception, he focused on the design on the hilt of Alec’s sword. An idea flared in his mind. He smiled and with a flick, he hooked Alec’s hilt with the tip of his sword, flinging it free into the nearby grass.
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